Gas lighter construction



Jan. 31, 1967 B. MEYLAN GAS LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 9, 1964 BERNRY& "H

INVENTQR United States Patent GAS LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Bernard Meylan, Villa La Ruche, Leysin-Feydey, Switzerland Filed Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,849 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dec. 4, 1963, 14,890/63 2 Claims. (Cl. 67--7.1)

structure the threadable regulating sleeve bears against a ringor disk-shaped filter member pressed against the floor of the valve housing or against appropriate contact surfaces, wherein the compression of the filter member is a measure for the quantity of fuel reaching the free end of the burner nozzle through the filter member and via the valve seat.

However, with such physical construction there exists the disadvantage that after threading back the regulating sleeve in order to enlarge the flame, the previously strongly compressed filter member only again expands relatively slowly particularly then, if the lighter has for a longer time been adjusted for providing a small flame. This delayed expansion of the filter member can thus lead to the result that the user further turns back the regulating sleeve more than necessary. With subsequent operation of the lighter and when the filter member has reached its volume limited by the regulating sleeve, it is possible that the user will be confronted with a considerably higher flame than previously regulated, this can readily lead to injury. On the other hand, however, an optimum compression of the filter member for a long time with the lighter set for a small flame can lead to a permanent deformation of the filter member, thereby rendering impossible a faultless regulation of the flame height.

Accordingly, the present invention has for one of its primary objects to provide an improved lighter construction which overcomes the disadvantages of the known lighter constructions noted above, and, more specifically, is directed to the provision of a gas lighter construction enabling the height of the flame to be positively regulated at any time. I

Another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved gas lighter incorporating valve mechnism for quickly and easily regulating the size of the flame in a positive manner and with minimum difiiculty.

Still a further important object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved gas lighter incorporating means for regulating the flame height in a relatively simple and quick manner, with such means being of comparatively simple construction, highly reliable in operation, economical to manufacture, and easy to manipulate.

In order to implement these and still further objects of the invention the gas lighter of the subject invention is manifested by the features that, a regulating sleeve for regulating the fuel escaping at the valve seat cooperates with a dosing pin axially displaceable relative to the aforesaid regulating sleeve, such dosing pin extending with its one conically tapering end into a gas channel appropriately conically narrowing towards the valve seat in con- Patented Jan. 31, 1967 ice formity with the tapering of the dosing pin and opening into the valve seat.

With such physical construction of gas lighter it is now readily possible to widen or narrow, at any time without any delay, the fuel throughpassage to thereby regulate the height or size of the flame, by virtue of the relative displacement of the aforementioned conical surfaces designed to cooperate with one another.

According to the preferred embodiment of the inventive gas lighter the dosing pin can bear via a head portion arranged opposite its conical end through the agency of a filter disk against an intermediate ring which is axially displaceable relative to the aforesaid dosing pin. Such an arrangement permits preregulation of the quantity of fuel escaping through the open valve during assembly of the lighter, in that the filter disk can be compressed to a greater or lesser extent.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawing in which in the single Figure there is illustrated an embodiment of the inventive gas lighter depicting a section through the burner valve assembly mounted in the fuel container of the gas lighter.

Describing now the drawing, it will be recognized that a pot-shaped valve housing 2 is inserted in a fuel container or receptacle 1 conveniently depicted in fragmentary cross-section. The valve housing 2 can be pressed into the fuel container 1, or, for instance, cast therein. An uptake tube or pipe 3, through which as a general rule there is threaded a wick and through which the fluid fuel located under pressure in the fuel container 1 arrives at the valve assembly further to be considered shortly, connects with the floor or base of the valve housing 2.

A regulating sleeve 4 threaded into the valve housing 2, at 4a, is constructed or provided with a member 5a at its inner end serving as a valve seat 5. This regulating sleeve 4 bears at its inner frontal face 4b via a sealing ring 6 upon an intermediate ring 7 arranged between the floor of the valve housing 2 and the regulating sleeve 4. The intermediate ring 7, which as more fully to be described hereinafter serves for fuel preregulation, in the illustrated embodiment, possesses an upwardly extending sleeve portion 8 sealingly enclosed by the sealing ring 6. On the other hand, the free end 40 of the regulating sleeve 4 exhibits a ring flange 4d, the surface of which is advantageously roughened or knurled in order to facilitate rotation of the aforesaid regulating sleeve 4.

A burner nozzle 9 axially displaceable against the force of a spring 10 from the illustrated closing position into an open position is mounted in the regulating sleeve 4. In order to displace this burner nozzle 9 a non-illustrated lever engages with a control flange or member 11 arranged at the end of the burner nozzle 9 protruding out of the regulating sleeve 4. The details of the mechanism for actuating the control flange 11 are not important for understanding the underlying principles of the present invention, yet reference may be made to my copending United States application, Serial No. 401,433, filed October 5, 1964, now United States Patent 3,224,235 and entitled Gas Lighter which discloses such an actuating mechanism. The inwardly disposed end 9a of the burner nozzle 9 carries a valve sealing member 12 which in the closing position of the burner nozzle 9 is pressed against the valve seat 5 and prevents flowing-out of the fuel.

The regulating sleeve 4 carrying the valve seat 5 cooperates with a dosing pin 13 in order to regulate the quantity of fuel escaping at the valve seat 5 in the open position of the burner nozzle 9. This dosing pin 13 in corporates a head portion 14 bearing against the floor of the valve housing 2 and extends with its conical tapering end 15 through the intermediate ring 7 into a gas channel 16 discharging or terminating at the valve seat 5. This gas channel 16 piercingly extending through the floor of the regulating sleeve 4 narrows towards the dosing pin 13 in conformity with the conicity of the aforesaid dosing pin 13, so that the axial relative movement between regulating sleeve 4 and dosing pin 13 brought about upon rotation of the regulating sleeve 4 permits a more or lesspronounced penetration of the conical pin end portion 15 into the gas channel 16, and thereby a corresponding widening or narrowing of the air gap 20 between these members. As a result, there is attainable regulation of the gas quantity streaming through the aforesaid air gap 20. In the physical construction shown, the regulating sleeve 4 can be rotated to such an extent that the heretofore described conical surfaces designed to cooperate with one another come to bear against one another, whereby the large sealing surfaces formed by the conicity provide a gastight closure.

The head portion 14 of the dosing pin 13 additionally cooperates via its inclined surface 14a with the previously described intermediate ring 7, whereby this head portion 14 bears at a corresponding inclined surface 7a provided at the underface of the intermediate ring 7 through the agency of a filter sheet or disk 17. The intermediate ring 7 is threated into the valve housing 2, at 711, such permitting an axial relative movement between the dosing pin 13 and the intermediate ring 7. This relative movement serves to preregulate the quantity of fuel arriving at the burner nozzle 9, the mass of which is predeterminable by the compression of the filter disk 17. It will be appreciated that the fuel flows from the uptake pipe 3 into a transverse slot 14b at the bottom of the head portion 14 of the dosing pin 13, then into a fuel compartment 140 formed between the intermediate ring 7 and floor of the valve housing 2 to thereafter contact and flow through the filter disk or sheet 17. Naturally, this adjustment is only undertaken once during assembly of the burner valve, whereafter a constant flow of fuel from the uptake pipe 3 through the filter 17 to the infeed opening of the conical gas channel 16 is ensured, along the path of which the initially liquid fuel vaporizes.

It is further to be mentioned that naturally also the intermediate ring 7 could be rigidly connected with the valve housing 2, in which case the dosing pin 13 would be provided with threading.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Gas lighter comprising a fuel container, a valve housing supported by said fuel container, a regulating sleeve threadably connected within said valve housing, said regulating sleeve including means providing a valve seat, said means providing a valve seat including a gas channel conically tapering towards and discharging at said valve seat, a burner nozzle mounted for axial displacement in said regulating sleeve from a closing position into an opening position, said burner nozzle including an inner end directed towards said valve seat, a valve sealing member carried by said inner end of said burner nozzle positioned to cooperate with said valve seat, a dosing pin axially displaceable relative to said regulating sleeve, said regulating sleeve cooperating with said dosing pin in order to regulate fuel departing through said .valve seat via said gas channel, said dosing pin having an end which is conically tapered in conformity with the 'conical tapering of said gas channel and extending into said gas channel, an intermediate ring mounted in said valve housing beneath said regulating sleeve for axial movement relative to said dosing pin, a filter disk, cooperating with said intermediate ring, said dosing pin including a head portion arranged opposite its conically References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,677,948 5/1954 Gehrie 677.1 3,092,988 12/1963 Myers 67--7.1 3,141,317 7/1964 Segawa 67-7.1 3,213,649 10/1965 Sakamoto 677.1

EDWARD 1. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. GAS LIGHTER COMPRISING A FUEL CONTAINER, A VALVE HOUSING SUPPORTED BY SAID FUEL CONTAINER, A REGULATING SLEEVE THREADABLY CONNECTED WITHIN SAID VALVE HOUSING, SAID REGULATING SLEEVE INCLUDING MEANS PROVIDING A VALVE SEAT, SAID MEANS PROVIDING A VALVE SEAT INCLUDING A GAS CHANNEL CONICALLY TAPERING TOWARDS AND DISCHARGING AT SAID VALVE SEAT, A BURNER NOZZLE MOUNTED FOR AXIAL DISPLACEMENT IN SAID REGULATING SLEEVE FROM A CLOSING POSITION INTO AN OPENING POSITION, SAID BURNER NOZZLE INCLUDING AN INNER END DIRECTED TOWARDS SAID VALVE SEAT, A VALVE SEALING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID INNER END OF SAID BURNER NOZZLE POSITIONED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID VALVE SEAT, A DOSING PIN AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE RELATIVE TO SAID REGULATING SLEEVE, SAID REGULATING SLEEVE COOPERATING WITH SAID DOSING PIN IN ORDER TO REGULATE FUEL DEPARTING THROUGH SAID VALVE SEAT VIA SAID GAS CHANNEL, SAID DOSING PIN HAVING AN END WHICH IS CONICALLY TAPERED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE CONCIAL TAPERING OF SAID GAS CHANNEL AND EXTENDING INTO SAID GAS CHANNEL, AN INTERMEDIATE RING MOUNTED IN SAID VALVE HOUSING BENEATH SAID REGULATING SLEEVE FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID DOSING PIN, A FILTER DISK, COOPERATING WITH SAID INTERMEDIATE RING, SAID DOSING PIN INCLUDING A HEAD PORTION ARRANGED OPPOSITE ITS CONICALLY TAPERED END, SAID HEAD PORTION BEARING AGAINST SAID INTERMEDIATE RING VIA SAID FILTER DISK. 